This past November brought unseasonably cool conditions to most of the United States, including here in New York City.  The rest of the globe, however, experienced exceptional warmth.

According to the National Climatic Data Center, November 2013 was the warmest November ever recorded for the entire planet.  Earth’s combined average temperature for the month – over both land and sea surfaces – was 56.6°F.  That is 1.4°F above the 20th century average.  This November was also the 345^th consecutive month that our global temperature was above its long-term norm.

While heat dominated most of the planet, Russia was particularly warm.  Some parts of the vast country, including the Urals, Siberia, and the Arctic Islands in the Kara Sea, posted temperatures of more than 14°F above the monthly average. As a whole, it was that nation’s warmest November since record keeping began in 1891.

Year to date, 2013 is now tied with 2002 as the planet’s 4^th warmest year on record.

Image Credit: NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center